The beloved Shube family has dedicated more than 70 years to giving back to the community that has supported them since day one.
What began as a 500-square-foot shop has grown tremendously into a 10,000-square-foot store offering more than meets the eye. Beginning with Bill Shube and continuing with George, Carol, and Doug, Shubie’s has become a home to many with the help of their selfless nature.
Having gone through the Marblehead Public School System and with family members currently going through the system, giving back to the schools has been one of their most important ventures. In addition, the Shubes have donated to community health, religious, and nonprofit organizations.
As a token of appreciation for their generosity, George, Carol, and Doug Shube have been named Essex Media Group’s “Person of the Year” for Marblehead.
Despite already making numerous donations to the community and being involved in community events, the family is always pushing to do even more.
“When people thank us, sometimes what we say is, ‘We’d like to do more,’” Carol Shube said. “And we have done more over the years; when we do better, we can do more. And I hope it continues like that because, honestly, they deserve it.”
Celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2023 and coming up on 20 years in its current location, the Shubes decided to make some big renovations to the store over the last year. New refrigeration, new food cases, added equipment, changes to the checkout area, real shelving, and the addition of the cafe were part of those renovations.
“That is the way to stay fresh, to stay up to date, to stay current and offer them the best. Just as we can help the schools and other organizations, it’s another investment,” she explained.
One space within the store has become the hub of community gathering — the cafe.
“One of our first weekends we were open, I went upstairs for lunch on a Saturday. I came down an hour later, and it blew me away,” George Shube shared. “The same people who were on the floor shopping and talking with friends were still here an hour later.”
As the space continues to prove its worth, the Shubes are looking to utilize it for more events. Carol shared they’re planning to host a “Galentine’s Day” event with a photo booth and tarot card reader. Doug Shube is looking into using the area for wine tastings, giving the community a moment to unwind and find their perfect wine match.
Even though it’s their name on the front of the store, they know none of it would be possible without the help of their unbelievably talented staff.
“We have some people who have been here for 25 years,” George Shube said. “They’re more than employees, they’re friends, they’re almost like family.”
They recognize their employees go above and beyond when catering to the community. The employees create a real personal connection with the people who come in day in and day out, knowing exactly how they like their salad or what wine they like to drink. It’s just another portion of Shubie’s that makes the store so special.
Entering their 77th year of operation, the Shubes look to add more to their already diverse menu and grow the cafe area to become a community gathering space. As they work a full year with the new renovations, they look forward to seeing what works and what doesn’t and how they can improve the store even further.
“We believe in the community,” Doug Shube said. “And that’s really what it’s all about.”
